Ducks re-tool in flurry of deals

ANAHEIM -- First-year Ducks general manager Bob Murray used a flurry of four deals before Wednesday's NHL trade deadline to try to better position the club for the future while also maintaining this season's Stanley Cup playoff hopes.

At a cost that included center Samuel Pahlsson, left wing Travis Moen and defensemen SteveMontador and Kent Huskins, each of whom stands to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, the Ducks landed potential top-six forward Erik Christensen from the Atlanta Thrashers, checking-type center Petteri Nokelainen from the Boston Bruins, "heart-and-soul" defenseman James Wisniewski from the Chicago Blackhawks and two promising prospects from the San Jose Sharks.

With the subtraction of Pahlsson, Moen and Huskins, as well as left wing Chris Kunitz, who went to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week in a trade for skilled defenseman Ryan Whitney, 14 players from the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Ducks are no longer in the organization. Twelve remain.

"Over the last few years, while chasing another Cup, we've let assets get away and gotten nothing for them," Murray said. "We had to stop that. We've let enough assets go."

With preliminary contract discussions involving representatives for Pahlsson, Moen and Huskins "going nowhere," Murray said, "it would have been totally irresponsible of me to not get the best I could for these unrestricted guys."

The Ducks will retain rights to Christensen and Wisniewski, who stand to become restricted free agents after this season, as well as Nokelainen after next season. Christensen earns an annual salary of $750,000, Nokelainen $850,000 and Wisniewski $900,000.

A furious few hours that included the Dallas Stars claiming center Brendan Morrison off waivers, the assignment of rookie defenseman Brendan Mikkelson and left wing Drew Miller to the IowaChops of the American League, and the recall of winger Troy Bodie left the Ducks with about $4.5 million in space beneath the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap.

Further evidenced by the Ducks hanging on to Chris Pronger, despite volumes of trade rumors involving the star defenseman, the busy day did not signal an abandonment of hope for a fourth consecutive post-season berth.

"I fully expect this team to run for a playoff spot," Murray said. "If I sense that any of our players think we have ‘sold,' and quit, we will rectify that situation."

While the immediate playing status of Moen, who suffered an ankle injury during Tuesday's 3-2, overtime loss at Chicago, Pahlsson (mononucleosis) and Huskins (broken foot) is in doubt, the Ducks figure to have Christensen, Nokelainen and Wisniewski available for Friday's key game against the visiting Stars.

Christensen, 25, arrived from the Thrashers in exchange for center Eric O'Dell, a second-round selection in last year's NHL entry draft who is currently with the Sudbury Wolves of the junior Ontario Hockey League. Acquired by Atlanta in last season's deadline deal that sent winger MarianHossa to the Penguins, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Christensen has five goals and 19 points in 47 games this season.

"He's a skilled player who can move the puck and handle the puck," Murray said. "He needs to play with good players, which he did in Pittsburgh. We have good players on our top two lines. He'll get that opportunity here."

Nokelainen, 23, was the product of a trade that sent Montador to the Bruins. A first-round draft pick by the New York Islanders in 2004, the 6-1, 195-pound native of Finland has been out of action since suffering a scratched cornea Feb. 10, but would have played Tuesday night had the trade not been pending, Murray said.

After managing seven goals and 10 points in 57 games last season, Nokelainen had seen diminished ice time this season and produced only three assists in 33 games.

"He's a hard, on-the-puck-type player with some skill," Murray said. "He has a little bit of everything. He ended up behind some good players in Boston. He needs an opportunity, and he's going to get his opportunity to blossom here."

After playing against the Ducks the night before, Wisniewski came from the Blackhawks, along with minor-league center Petri Kontiola, in exchange for Pahlsson, minor-league defenseman LoganStephenson and a conditional fourth-round draft pick this year.

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